Once you get past the dated hippie look of this 1968 Cream concert
video, you’ll likely fall in love (possibly again) with this legendary
rock power trio. Of course, everybody knows about its guitarist, Eric
Clapton. In fact, he was already a big star even before the group first
formed. But drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce also make
indelible impressions here. If there are any doubts about Cream’s
greatness still, which is highly unlikely, this video document should
convert these few remaining stragglers into true believers once and for
all.

There are only 10 songs in total on this DVD, but many of these tunes
are also certified classic rock staples. This set’s FM favorites
include “Sunshine Of Your Love,” “White Room” and “Crossroads.” Still,
there’s something special about watching these three instinctive
musicians explore such familiar melodies, back when the songs were
still relatively new entities.

One of the strangest aspects of this documentary-style concert video is
Patrick Allen’s narration. He describes the intricacies of Cream’s
music the way a chemist might analyze complex compounds. His voice is
extremely formal, oh-so-British. Of course, in 1968, rock and roll was
not nearly as omnipresent as it is now. Keep in mind that rock stars
were still members of the counterculture, rather than the corporate
spokespeople many of them are today. But listening to Allen is a bit
like watching Mr. Rogers when he’s out on a field trip. Allen
inquisitively discusses the rock music style the way humans might quiz
aliens from outer space – if, of course, they ever had an actual
encounter with such space beings.

Furthermore, Allen is heard talking with each Cream member one-on-one
during this DVD. These interview segments include Clapton showing off a
few of his favorite riffs and fills. What is better still, however, is
a similar section with Ginger Baker. During his screen time, Baker
admits that he doesn’t practice anymore. His brief drumming
demonstration section reveals that he doesn’t really need the practice
anyhow, as this demo leads right into his drum solo during the night’s
concert. And while it’s convenient to call the drum solo one of rock
music’s worst concert clichés, Baker’s lone skin work here is
nevertheless well worth watching. This young man with bright red hair
digs into his playing and just loses himself in it all. This is also
one program stretch where the DTS Digital Sound function is absolutely
essential. Because by the time Baker reaches the home stretch of his
instrumental spotlight, right at the point where he’s crazily working
his tom-tom drum, this music blasts out of the speakers like cannon
shots.

Speaking of sound, Bruce’s bass work is also enhanced greatly by the
superior sound quality of this disc. It’s been said that much of the
music from the ‘60s was recorded for the way the songs would sound
coming out of AM radios. But because radio sound is so trebly to begin
with, it really isn’t conducive for presenting bassists. By the time FM
came into its heyday, which happened in the ‘70s, Cream was already
history. Just listen to Bruce’s work as it’s presented here, however.
It’s crisp, melodic and inventive. When you also consider that Bruce
was this trio’s primary vocalist, it’s amazing that he could both play
and sing so well at the same time.

Oddly enough, Clapton comes off a distant third in the whole “lasting
impression” category here. He may be a great guitarist, and one who was
once even called “God” by a few misguided and overly enthusiastic music
fans, but this recording just doesn’t present him at his best. It may
be heresy to say this, but Derek & The Dominos, Clapton’s
super-group formed in 1970 after the demise of Cream and then Blind
Faith, offered a far better forum for Mr. Slowhand to stretch out and
do his thing. Maybe it was fellow guitarist Duane Allman’s presence in
The Dominos that spurred Clapton onto some of his greatest string work.
But as the lone axe man here in Cream, Clapton also had to hold down a
lot of its rhythm work, too, which may have limited the opportunities
he had to really show off his stuff.

Such observations aside, this work also reveals how the blues has
always been a large part of Clapton’s overall artistic inspiration. A
full third of these tracks, in fact, are blues covers. These selections
include “Crossroads,” “Sitting On Top Of The World” and “Spoonful.” So
anybody who thinks Clapton has somehow turned to playing the blues in
his advanced age hasn’t really studied his early catalogue too well.
There’s also something special about the way the blues is played here.
As Bruce explains at one point – at a juncture when that pesky narrator
Allen is asking about the affect of rock volume on human hearing – this
Cream music was created right as musicians were beginning to experiment
with the kind of power that would eventually mutate into heavy metal.
These aren’t the faithful blues covers that Clapton presented early in
his career, nor are they the more relaxed takes he would mine in latter
years. Instead, this music was something still relatively new at the
time. It would be hard to imagine a group like Led Zeppelin ever
existing had Cream not come along first. Zeppelin took Cream’s original
template and filled it in with that band’s unique blues-inspired hard
rock.

Along the way, Cream members speak out enthusiastically on camera about
the joys of improvising. In fact, Bruce mentions that the group – much
like any good jazz combo – only knows where each song begins and ends.
The middle parts are then totally made up as they go along. With that
said, however, something like “White Room” suffers in comparison to its
majestic studio recorded version. It’s just difficult on stage to
imitate the dynamics and airtight arrangement that made this such a
pivotal rock recording.

For those who may have been raised in the MTV and post-MTV generation,
watching this Cream DVD might well be an educational experience. This
was an era, after all, before theatrical rock and spectacle rock came
into vogue. So it captures three hardworking musicians, hard at work.
Rumor has it that Cream is toying with a reunion. And based upon this
historical look back, it’s hard to argue with such a plan. But even if
these guys decide not to have another go at it, the “Cream Farewell
Concert” offers a beautiful peek into a beautifully creative time.
Despite some of this DVD’s psychedelic camerawork, this is a collection
of inspired live music that still somehow comes off as timeless.